Biofilms evaluation as an essential component of HACCP for food/dairy processing industry - a case

Biofilm status of different segments of pasteurization lines of commercial plant (CP) and an experimental dairy plant (EDP) was evaluated. Biochemical differentiation of organisms in biofilms revealed the predominance of genus Bacillus (37% and 44%, respectively) in both the plants. The other microflora of CP included Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Lactococcus Mid Staphylococcus, while microflora of EDP additionally had Micrococcus sp. The Gram-negative genera in the Constitutive microflora of biofilms were mainly Shigella, E coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Citrobacter, Flavobacterium and Proteus in CP, while EDP additionally had Klebsiella sp. Iodophore at a concentration of 10 ppm with a contact time of 20 min Was found to be most effective to control mixed species biofilms of CP under in vitro and in situ conditions. Therefore, evaluation of biofilms status and development of an effective sanitation plan should be part of the HACCP plan development and ISO:9000 specifications for food processing industry to make them more meaningful. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.